11.3 Interest Groups
Mrs. Shadoin
Civics and Economics
Types of Interest Groups

Interest groups are organizations of people
who unite to promote their ideas; people form
them because by pooling resources they can
increase their influence
Types of Interest Groups

The First Amendment protects your right to
belong to interest groups by guaranteeing the
right of the people peaceably to assemble and
petition the government
Economic Interest Groups


Some of the most powerful interest groups are based
on economic interests; the US Chamber of
Commerce, is one of the largest
Other groups represent specific types of businesses,
such as the Tobacco Institute; they influence
government decisions on issues that affect their
industries
Economic Interest Groups


Interest Groups representing workers have been
some of the most influential; they are concerned
with wages, work conditions and benefits (AFLCIO)
Professionals such as lawyers, doctors, and
accountants have their own interest groups; the
American Medical Association represents doctors
Other Interest Groups


People have organized to promote ethnic groups, age
groups, religious groups, or genders
The National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP) works to improve the lives
of African Americans; the National Organization for
Women (NOW) represents women’s interests; the
AARP promotes the interests of older Americans
Other Interest Groups

Other interest groups work for special causes;
the Sierra Club works to protect nature, the
National Rifle Association (NRA) looks after
the interests of gun owners
Other Interest Groups

Private groups
promote only the
interests of their own
members; public
groups support
causes that affect all
of Americans
Other Interest Groups

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, or impartial, group that educates
voters about candidates and issues; others
work for consumer rights and disabled rights
Interest Groups and Government


Interest groups
primary goal is goal
is to influence public
policy they focus
their efforts on
elections, the courts,
and lawmakers
Some interest groups
use political
resources to support
certain candidates
election
Interest Groups and Government

Many interest groups have formed Political
Action Committees (PACs) that collect money
from members and use it to support some
candidates and oppose others
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_action_committees
Interest Groups and Government

Influencing public
policy by bringing cases
to court is another
option; interest groups
can sue parties breaking
laws or argue a law or
government policy is
unconstitutional
In Winters v. Natural Resources Defense
Council the Supreme Court ruled the Navy
could use sonar off the coast of CA because
national security trumps environmental
concerns.
Lobbying Government


Interest groups use lobbyists to influence government
officials, especially at the national and state levels
Lobbyists are representatives of interest groups who
contact lawmakers or other government officials
directly; they operate at all levels of government
Lobbying Government

Lobbyists have a good understanding of how
the government functions; they know which
government department to contact about a
particular concern
Lobbying Government

One of their most important resources is
information; they supply lawmakers with
information that helps their cases and suggest
solutions to problems and issues
Tobacco industry executives and lobbyists testifying before Congress in 1998.
Techniques Interest Groups Use


Interest groups influence
public opinion to gain
members and convince
people of the importance
of their causes
They use direct-mail
campaigns to recruit and
advertise; they also stage
protests and organize
public events to get
coverage in the media
Techniques Interest Groups Use


Interest groups use propaganda techniques to promote
a particular viewpoint or idea
1. The Bandwagon convincing people that everyone
else agrees with the interest group’s viewpoint or that
everyone is going to vote for a candidate
Techniques Interest Groups Use

2. Name-Calling an attempt to turn people
against an opponent or idea by using an
unpleasant label or description for that person
or idea
Techniques Interest Groups Use

3. Endorsement if people like the person
endorsing the candidate or product, they will
support it as well
Techniques Interest Groups Use

4. Stacked Cards presents only one side of the
issue
Techniques Interest Groups Use

5. Glittering Generality a statement that
sounds good but is meaningless
Techniques Interest Groups Use

6. Just Plain Folks makes people think the
candidate is just like them, with the same
desires and concerns
Techniques Interest Groups Use

7. Transfer associating a patriotic symbol with
a candidate
Regulating Interest Groups



Laws have limited the amount of money PACs may
contribute to candidates and have required lobbyists
to register with congressional officials
Lobbyists must also disclose who hired them, how
much they are paid, and how they spend money
related to their work
Federal and state laws also require a waiting period
before former government officials can become
lobbyists
Regulating Interest Groups


CONS: Some people argue interest groups
have too much say in government, campaign
contributions give interest groups improper
influence over officeholders
PROS: Interest groups communicate people’s
wishes to their representatives, they enable
Americans to organize and participate in the
political system, and pressure government to
follow policies they want